JP2001097252A - Method for controlling recording part of accident data recorder of vehicle and accident data recorder of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple control method for the recoding part of an accident data recorder taking an existing safety diagnosis system into consideration. SOLUTION: A video signal is analyzed and evaluated corresponding to schema set by an accident data recorder (a), and is inputted to a characteristic map (b) which can set an evaluation signal to be used in determining the time range of record of an accident data recorder 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a recording unit of an accident data recorder of a vehicle, which detects a surrounding environment of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle with a video sensor and supplies it as a video signal to the accident data recorder. . The invention also relates to a vehicle accident data recorder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Systems for recording accident data are well known. Federal Republic of Germany Published Patent Application No. 1971726
No. 2 and EP-A-22686.
No. 08 describes a device for detecting a surrounding environment of a vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle by using a video sensor. The video sensor provides a video signal, which is converted to a digital signal and stored without further evaluation. The disadvantage of this type of approach is that the start of the recording is often chosen to be very inconvenient, i.e. the time range of the recording is fixed, making later analysis of the cause of the accident difficult. As described above, the recording is performed periodically, and after a predetermined period, the recording on the accident data recorder is overwritten. Due to the limited data capacity, this period is often chosen to be very short, for example 5 s. If an airbag signal or acceleration signal is present, the overwrite is interrupted. Therefore, the collision with the object is not detected when the speed of the vehicle is low, or is incomplete even if detected. Recording is not triggered for objects having a relatively high velocity when colliding with the vehicle.

Furthermore, the cause of the accident can only be concluded in relation to other data. For example, if a traffic sign is missed by the driver of the vehicle, or if the vehicle has left the vehicle road, the accidents resulting from this will occur much later in time, and in some cases just determined Sometimes the right moment is not recorded.

[0004] A further disadvantage is the lack of data representing the position of the vehicle in addition to data from the environment around the vehicle. To analyze the course of the accident, for example, the relative lateral position of the vehicle and the edge of the road, the yaw angle between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the tangent of the edge of the road, and other parameters representing the position, etc. Known data is important. For the same reason, data inside the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed, a brake signal, a direction indicator signal, or an acceleration signal, is also recorded together.

[0005] It is well known to detect data belonging to the above-mentioned surrounding environment of a vehicle by a safety diagnosis system. This is detected by, for example, a traveling path identification unit, a steering assist mechanism related to traveling dynamics, an object identification unit, a traffic sign identification unit, and an automatic headlamp control mechanism. In the safety diagnosis system described above, the video signal of the video sensor is evaluated accordingly and is used according to the task of controlling the safety support means. In this way, for example, a departure from the travel path is detected, and a warning is given to the driver of the vehicle by an acoustic signal accordingly.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a simple control method for a recording section of an accident data recorder in consideration of an existing safety diagnosis system.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is to (a) analyze and evaluate a video signal according to a schema which can be set by an accident data recorder to form an evaluation signal; and (b) set the evaluation signal. The problem is solved by the method used to enter into the characteristic map and to define the time range of the recording of the accident data recorder.

Another object is to provide (a) at least one signal processing unit with a data processor for analyzing a prepared video signal, and (b) storage for storing an analysis program and for storing data. The problem is solved by configuring an accident data recorder comprising at least one signal memory component with a medium.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, recording can be performed very surely with a much higher information capacity than before. In this case, an existing safety diagnosis system can be used. Advantageously, the data already obtained by the identification unit of the travel path, the steering assistance mechanism related to the dynamics, the identification unit of the object, the identification unit of the traffic sign, or the automatic control mechanism of the headlamp can be used.

Advantageously, the accident data recorder has an interface to a data network inside the vehicle, through which vehicle speed, acceleration and other data can be detected. More preferably, the accident data recorder is provided with a current supply independent of the vehicle's current network, since current supply via the vehicle's current network is often not possible after an accident. .

By using the method of the present invention, the control of the recording time range can be improved, and the information capacity of the recording section can be significantly increased. In this way, simultaneously with the position data of the vehicle, the data of the surrounding environment of the vehicle and the data inside the vehicle can be stored in the storage medium for interpretation of the recorded video signal.

The signal processing unit can be integrated in the accident data recorder to reduce material costs. This is in addition to the fact that existing safety or diagnostic systems do not have to have their own signal processing unit due to the aforementioned data.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the features described in the remaining dependent claims.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in greater detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an accident data recorder 10.
It is shown. The accident data recorder 10 is connected to the video sensor 12 via a suitable data line. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the accident data recorder 10 has an interface 14 through which a data network 16 inside the vehicle can be accessed. Furthermore, the accident data recorder 10 has a current supply 18 independent of the current network of the vehicle. This is because, after an accident, the current network of the vehicle often decays and there is a risk of data loss.

The accident data recorder 10 comprises a signal processing unit 20 and a signal memory component 22. The signal processing unit 20 has a data processor that analyzes the video signal prepared by the video sensor 12. The signal memory component 22 stores at least one analysis medium and has at least one storage medium for storing data. The analysis of the video signal takes place inside the accident data recorder 10 and at the same time is used for controlling the safety diagnostic system. Material cost can be reduced by common use.

The control of the recording unit of the accident data recorder 10 will be briefly described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. First, in step S1, the video signal is
Is detected by Here, the image range of the video sensor 12 is usually limited to the surrounding environment of the vehicle in the traveling direction of the vehicle. It is well known to detect, possibly digitize, and preprocess video signals. In this way, the luminance can be positively controlled, for example, by a non-linear change characteristic curve.

The video signal is subsequently transmitted to the signal processing unit 20.
And is evaluated in accordance with the analysis program stored in the signal memory component 22 (step S
2). Here, the analysis can be performed using a safety diagnostic system based on video signals. Thus, for example, a roadway identifier, an object identifier, or a traffic sign identifier can be used to determine the evaluation signal. This type of image processing system is well known and will not be described in detail here. The only important thing is that the evaluation signal determined in this way from the video signal which is continuously applied to the accident data recorder 10 can be extracted by filtering. This kind of signal reduction is necessary also from the viewpoint of quickly defining the time range of recording.

In step S3, the evaluation signal obtained in step S2 is input to the characteristic map. For example, position data of a vehicle, an identified traffic sign, an object, and the like can be used as the evaluation signal. In addition, data inside the vehicle can also be incorporated into the characteristic map via the interface 14. For example, a vehicle speed, an engine state signal, a brake signal, a traveling direction indicator signal, an acceleration signal, an airbag signal, or the like is suitable. These operating parameters can be detected via appropriate sensors (step S4), as is well known, and input into the data network 16 inside the vehicle.

The recording time range is determined by the characteristic map (step S5). During recording, additional data besides the video signal is stored in the signal memory component 22 (step S6). Thus, the position data of the vehicle,
For example, the width of the road, the curvature of the curve of the road, the lateral relative position of the vehicle and the edge of the road, the yaw angle between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the tangent to the edge of the road, and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The pitch angle between the vehicle and the traveling road surface, the roll angle between the horizontal axis of the vehicle and the traveling road surface, and the like can be stored.

Furthermore, information obtained via the safety diagnosis system, for example, the position, size, distance and relative speed of traffic signs and objects, particularly objects (eg, cars, pedestrians, motorcycles), or road characteristics. And other information can be taken in individually. It is also effective to record together the data inside the vehicle read through the interface 14. Overall, a very detailed analysis of the records can be performed in this way.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an accident data recorder.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for controlling a recording unit of the accident data recorder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 accident data recorder 12 video sensor 14 interface 16 data network 18 current supply unit 20 signal processing unit 22 signal memory component

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a recording unit of an accident data recorder of a vehicle, wherein a surrounding environment of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle is detected by a video sensor and supplied as a video signal to the accident data recorder. The signal is analyzed and evaluated (forms an evaluation signal) according to a schema which can be set by the accident data recorder (10), and (b) the evaluation signal is input into a settable characteristic map, and the accident data recorder (10) A) controlling the recording unit of the vehicle accident data recorder, which is used to determine the recording time. 2. A safety diagnostic system for analyzing the video signal.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed in accordance with, for example, a roadway identification unit, an object identification unit, or a traffic sign identification unit. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein data such as an airbag signal, a vehicle speed, a brake signal, a traveling direction signal, an acceleration signal, or an engine state signal is input into a characteristic map for determining a recording time. 2. The method according to 2. 4. The recording section includes a width of a traveling path, a degree of a curve of the traveling path, a relative position in a lateral direction between a vehicle and an edge of the traveling path, and a yaw between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a tangent to the edge of the traveling path. 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, comprising data of a vehicle position such as an angle, a pitch angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a road surface, and a roll angle between a lateral axis of the vehicle and a road surface. the method of. 5. The recording unit has data of a surrounding environment of the vehicle such as a traffic sign, a characteristic of a traveling road, a position, a size, a distance, and a relative speed of another object (for example, a passenger car, a pedestrian, a motorcycle). A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit has data inside the vehicle such as a vehicle speed, an airbag signal, a brake signal, a traveling direction signal, an acceleration signal, and an engine state signal. the method of. 7. (a) at least one signal processing unit (20) with a data processor for analyzing the prepared video signal; and (b) storing an analysis program and storing data. A vehicle accident data recorder (1) comprising at least one signal memory component (22) with a storage medium.
0). 8. The accident data recorder according to claim 7, wherein the accident data recorder has an interface to a data network inside the vehicle. 9. The accident data recorder according to claim 7, wherein the accident data recorder is assigned a current supply independent of the current network of the vehicle.